Habitat suitability analysis in a natural peat swamp forest on Sumatran elephants using remote sensing and GIS

Abstract Context It is essential to assess the suitable habitat for elephants in order to mitigate the effects of forest fragmentation on conservation. Aims This study aimed to estimate the potential suitable habitats for Sumatran elephants in the fragmented forest in the Padang Sugihan wildlife reserve area in southern Sumatra, Indonesia. Methods The habitat suitability was analyzed using some environmental factors such as slope, elevation, land cover, distance to rivers, and distance to agricultural areas. The remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), and MaxEnt model were used to determine the potential habitat suitability for Sumatran elephants. Results This study revealed areas of suitable habitat were evenly distributed throughout the study area, with the composition being suitable (45%), highly suitable (5%), and less suitable (50%). This study revealed the most suitable habitats were found in dense forest areas (gelam or Melaleuca cajuputi forest), which were highly affected by river adjacency, whereas agricultural areas resulted in constrained suitability and fragmentation of forested areas. Conclusions As a whole, the estimation of elephant habitat using remote sensing and GIS may guide the development of conservation strategies for elephant conservation in this region. KEY MESSAGE The Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) is on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a species that is “Critically Endangered.” The population of elephants has steadily declined in the Sumatra region, which is characterized by peat swamp forests and a tropical rainforest climate and is vulnerable to habitat degradation.